Procurement Specialist - Advisory Services (Medical Equipment)

Based in Copenhagen, Denmark, the UNOPS Integrated Practice Advice and Support (IPAS) serves all the regions and headquarters, primarily with advice and solutions to everyday implementation challenges. IPAS consists of a diverse team of subject matter experts in the six practice areas of HR, Administration, Legal, Finance, Procurement, Project Management and Infrastructure. IPAS has three main roles:

Support to operations in the field offices: IPAS provides timely advice and supports actively finding of solutions to everyday implementation challenges, based on policy and best practices. It also provides operational support in specific areas.

Business efficiency: IPAS recommends changes to policies, processes and operating standards based on the feedback and experience of the field offices. IPAS also ensures transparent and efficient project implementation, in line with policy and business needs. 

Body of knowledge: IPAS contributes to research and coordination within the policy groups and project practitioners. It provides structured knowledge and subject matter expertise which is used across practice areas to provide coherent and tailored advice to the requesting offices.

IPAS Procurement supports UNOPS Country Offices and HQ Business Units in all aspects of UNOPS procurement. Our major areas of support are:

• Advisory: Advice and technical support on procurement policy and processes

• Operational: Establishment and management of global contracts and LTAs

UNOPS supports the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to serve people in need by expanding the ability of the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, infrastructure and procurement in a sustainable and efficient manner. Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, our vision is to advance sustainable implementation practices, always satisfying or surpassing our partners’ expectations. A flexible structure and global reach means that we can quickly respond to our partners' needs, while offering the benefits of economies of scale. 

UNOPS provides health infrastructure, procurement and fund management services to our partners (Governments, UN organizations, International Financial Institutions, Funds) in some of the world’s most challenging environments. From constructing hospitals, to procuring pharmaceuticals or medical equipment, UNOPS is working to deliver sustainable health outcomes for millions of people. 

In recent years, the demand for health related services from our partners has increased significantly and this has translated into an equivalent increase in the procurement volume of health related goods and services, which since 2019 has totalled over $ 400 million in pharmaceuticals and medical devices (including medical and laboratory equipment, consumables, surgical instruments and supplies, etc.).

In line with the framework agreement signed with the Government of Mexico, UNOPS supports the different collaboration initiatives by the government that are aimed at the fight against corruption and transparency in the public management; as well as in the exercises aimed at the strengthening government actions in the areas of acquisitions, infrastructure and management of high impact projects in Mexico. This position will support those efforts with specific focus on the PharmaMX project. 

The objective of PharmaMX is to support the Government of Mexico in its effort to guarantee the right to health to the largest number of inhabitants through the planning and management of the consolidated purchase of medicines (period 2021-2024), as well as assistance in the profiling of the system and model of consolidated purchase of medicines for the health sector of the Government of Mexico.

IPAS Procurement  has decided to create this new technical position to strengthen its capability to respond to the growing demand from UNOPS Country Offices for expertise and support in procurement of medical equipment. 

This position will report to IPAS Procurement Team Manager and will work closely with other procurement specialists within IPAS Procurement team and in country offices around the world.

This position will be for the duration of  the PharmaMX project.

Summary of functions:

1. Procurement Advisory Services

2. Operational Support for projects/programmes implementation 

3. Quality assurance

4. Procurement Management

5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

1. Procurement Advisory Services

• Advice and support to the Mexico project as well as any other UNOPS project on technical aspects of the procured goods (Medical Equipment), contribute with the expertise to development and review of the technical specifications; 

• Advice and support to the Mexico project as well as any other UNOPS project on procurement strategy and methods for medical equipment.

2. Operational Support for projects/programmes implementation 

• Conceptualize, elaborate and implement procurement and contract strategy including tendering processes and evaluation, contractor appraisal, evaluation and negotiation of offers, administration of the contract and the performance management of the contractors, legal considerations and payment conditions as well as risk assessment;

• Act as focal point for medical equipment related procurement in IPAS Procurement  team, and provide leadership and strategic direction for such;

• Assist with cost estimations and reasonableness of costs for the required goods/services.

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent), preferably in the field of Medical/Biomedical  Engineering (or relevant)
• Bachelor’s degree with an additional two years of relevant work experience will be accepted in lieu of a Master’s/advanced university degree

Contract type: ICA 
Contract level: I-ICA 2
Contract duration: open-ended, subject to satisfactory performance and the duration of the PharmaMX project

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.